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Something I dont think very many people realize is that cattle are raised on land that is unsuitable for practically any other purpose. They aren't ranching in
by missedthecue 6y ago
Something I dont think very many people realize is that cattle are raised on land that is unsuitable for practically any other purpose.
They aren't ranching in Manhatten. Leasing land for grazing brings in about $70 an acre while doing it for crops will bring in around $280 an acre. Development of course would bring in amounts that are several orders of magnitude higher. Where cattle are raised, raising cattle is the only purpose available. This is why ranches are out west in the US or in the outback in Australia.
If the world stopped raising cattle, a lot of steppes around the world would go back to being completely useless. We wouldnt free up valuable land.
- eigenket 6y agoThats not hugely relevant though, quoting from the wiki article: "Grazing systems supply about 9 percent of the world's production of beef" The overwhelming majority of cows live on maize, soy, barley etc. Article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_feeding#Grazing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_feeding#Grazing
- cj 6y agoI’d be interested to read more about this. Any sources you’d recommend?
- astura 6y agoWhich is entirely irrelevant because 90%+ of cattle produced for meat do not graze, they are fed industrial produced corn and soy in crowded feedlots. We don't have the physical space on earth for all the cattle we currently produce to graze naturally.